Anti-inflammatory activity of phytochemicals from medicinal plants and their nanoparticles: A review

Plant-based phytochemicals are known for their potential sources of anti-inflammatory agents. Various studies reported the potential disease-healing efficiency of medicinal plants’ crude extracts, pure compounds, and their metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (M/MONPs) against inflammation. The purpose of this paper is to review the current research status of phytochemicals of medicinal plants and their nanoparticles as anti-inflammatory agents reported by various studies. Phytochemicals representing the class of flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, chemical constituents of essential oils, and some of their M/MONPs were reported from about 50 medicinal plants for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The natural products of these plants demonstrated promising anti-inflammatory activities to treat skin, liver, cardiovascular, joint, gastrointestinal, neurological, and lung inflammation diseases. Besides, the mechanism of anti-inflammatory actions of phytochemicals and their M/MONPs agents are also summarized briefly. Various studies of phytochemistry, M/MONPs, and anti-inflammatory activities of phytochemicals from medicinal plants have developed novel, safe, and lesser side effects agents. Hence, this review may draw the attention of scholars more toward the investigation of natural products of medicinal plants and their nanoparticles in the treatment of different health disorders.